Definition

1. Noun:

   • A state of agitated confusion, nervousness, or discomposure.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause someone to become nervous, agitated, or confused.
3. Verb (intransitive):
   • To become nervous, agitated, or confused; to behave in a flustered manner.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The unexpected question from the audience put the speaker in a fluster.
  • She was in a complete fluster trying to get the children ready for school.

• Verb (transitive):

  • The interviewer's rapid-fire questions flustered the candidate.
  • Don't let his criticism fluster you; stay focused on your plan.

• Verb (intransitive):

  • He tends to fluster easily when he's under pressure.
  • She flustered for a moment, searching for the right words.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in/get into a fluster": This is a common collocation to describe entering a state of agitation.
  • There's no need to get into a fluster; we have plenty of time.
• "all of a fluster": An idiomatic phrase emphasizing a sudden onset of agitation.
  • She was all of a fluster when she realized she had lost her keys.

Variants and Related Words

• Flustered (adjective): Being in a state of nervous confusion.
  • He gave a flustered apology after spilling his drink.
• Flustering (adjective): Causing someone to become flustered.
  • It was a flustering experience for the new employee.

Synonyms

• Noun: Agitation, discomposure, dither, perturbation, turmoil.
• Verb (to cause fluster): Agitate, disconcert, discompose, perturb, rattle, unsettle.
• Verb (to become flustered): Dither, panic, become agitated.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(The word "fluster" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically expressed by the verb alone.)

Related Idioms

• "To throw someone into a fluster": Synonymous with causing someone to become flustered.
  • The last-minute change of plans threw the whole team into a fluster.

Noun

1. a disposition that is confused or nervous and upset

Verb

1. cause to be nervous or upset
2. be flustered; behave in a confused manner